Law helps address human trafficking; co-sponsors instrumental

On June 18, Gov. Nikki Haley signed a new law to address human trafficking, a lucrative, secretive and brutal criminal enterprise that occurs throughout the world, including the United States.

Her signature culminated months of hard work to bring South Carolina out of what a national organization had termed “the dirty dozen,” states without adequate laws to address exploitative labor practices and forced prostitution.

For the first time, our Legislature has clearly defined the crime of human trafficking and has convened a task force to implement a comprehensive strategy for combating it. Among the many changes to state law, the courts can now seize assets from people convicted of human trafficking and the offender can be required to pay restitution to his or her victims. An extra 15 years of prison time can be tacked on if the victim of the crime is under 18 years old.

Many of the lobbying efforts for this important piece of legislation occurred at a grassroots level. Members of the Lowcountry Coalition Against Human Trafficking and citizens across the state lobbied the legislature in-person and from afar. We would like to especially thank state Sen. Tom Davis, state Rep. Shannon Erickson and state Rep. Andy Patrick for co-sponsoring the bill and for guiding it to passage. We are also grateful to Solicitor Duffie Stone for his public support of the bill and for working tirelessly for its approval.

This law empowers investigators, prosecutors and the court system to root out and address human trafficking, but it will be up to all of us to learn the signs of this horrendous crime, to report it to the proper authorities and to help the victims rebuild their lives.

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